Making incremental improvements over last year's strong version, Madden 2002 is shaping up to be more evolutionary than revolutionary. Graphics receive a minor facelift. Player faces are more detailed, while their bodies are properly proportioned--last year's players appeared too stocky. Hundreds of new player animations allow movement to appear far more fluid and natural. While we didn't get to go through the entire playbook of every team, last year's cheap "money" plays are no longer unstoppable. Although the PlayStation2 version was the furthest in development, the GameCube beta sported the nicest graphics. Players can practice late-game offense and defense in two-minute drill mode. Create-a-team allows players to start a new franchise, selecting helmets, uniforms, logos, stadiums and players. Training mode consists of John Madden coaching gamers on the various plays, helping them understand what each X and O in the playbook does. The new Houston Texans franchise is included and the game supports widescreen televisions, allowing players to see more of the field. --Raymond M Padilla